The head football coach at LSU recently picked up a commitment from quarterback Zadock Dinkelmann. Zack's an 8th grader from Texas. That's not a misprint; Dinkelmann is indeed an 8th grader. Recruiting middle school kids is increasingly common at the highest levels of college sports.

Hacking culture has ushered in an era of creators, who prove their ability through what they build and know, not through their alma mater. These young creators are now entering the job market and changing the recruitment industry.

One of the novelties of Lin's story is that he went to Harvard as a basketball player and then, despite his diploma, persevered as a basketball player after graduating. He represents the ultimate victory of the jock over the nerd.

For those who don't like to see kids getting recruited early, I ask: if it was your kid, and he was being recruited by one of the most storied grad programs in our poetry-loving nation, what would you do?